Gluten free diets are becoming increasingly popular, with more and more people choosing to avoid gluten for health or lifestyle reasons. For those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, eating gluten free is a medical necessity. When planning a trip to a Disney park or resort, gluten free guests often wonder if they will be able to find safe meal options.
The good news is that Disney has made great strides in recent years to accommodate guests with gluten free dietary needs. All of the Disney parks and resort hotels now have dedicated gluten free menus available at their table service restaurants. Additionally, quick service locations throughout the parks offer gluten free entree options and can modify side dishes to be gluten free when requested.
Gluten Free Dining at Disney World
Disney World in Orlando, Florida contains four major theme parks – Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. It also has two water parks, dozens of hotels, and Disney Springs for dining and entertainment.
All table service restaurants at Disney World have gluten free menus available. This includes favorites like Be Our Guest in Magic Kingdom, Coral Reef in Epcot, Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater at Hollywood Studios, and many more. Guests can ask their server for the gluten free menu.
Quick service restaurants at Disney World also have gluten free options. For example, Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe in Magic Kingdom has gluten free chicken nuggets, burgers, and salad options. Sunshine Seasons in Epcot offers gluten free entrees like salmon and steak fajitas. Quick service locations will have allergen-friendly guides to help guests identify which items are safe.
Kiosks and food carts throughout the parks also have gluten free snacks like fruit, popcorn, frozen bars, and more. Additionally, there are many naturally gluten free dishes like salads, fruits, vegetables, and fresh meats that can be found at various quick service spots.
Gluten Free at Magic Kingdom
As the most popular Disney World theme park, Magic Kingdom has a wide array of gluten free dining options. In addition to Be Our Guest, other table service restaurants with dedicated gluten free menus include:
- Cinderella’s Royal Table
- The Crystal Palace
- Liberty Tree Tavern
- Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen
- Tony’s Town Square Restaurant
Quick service locations with gluten free options consist of:
- Casey’s Corner
- Columbia Harbour House
- Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe
- Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe
- Pinocchio Village Haus
- Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant
Additionally, all the snack carts have fruits and other naturally gluten free items. Guests can also ask at any dining location for chef recommendations on which dishes can be modified to be gluten free.
Gluten Free at Epcot
The World Showcase at Epcot features pavilions representing 11 different countries, many of which offer delicious and safe gluten free options. Table service restaurants with gluten free menus consist of:
- Biergarten Restaurant (Germany)
- Le Cellier Steakhouse (Canada)
- Monsieur Paul (France)
- Rose & Crown Dining Room (United Kingdom)
- Tutto Italia Ristorante (Italy)
- Via Napoli Ristorante (Italy)
Quick service locations with gluten free choices include:
- Katsura Grill (Japan)
- Kringla Bakeri Og Cafe (Norway)
- Liberty Inn (America)
- Lotus Blossom Cafe (China)
- Promenade Refreshments (Canada)
- Sommerfest (Germany)
- Sunshine Seasons (The Land Pavilion)
- Tangierine Cafe (Morocco)
- Yorkshire County Fish Shop (United Kingdom)
Again, gluten free snacks and fresh items are abundant throughout Epcot. The cast members are also very accustomed to helping guests with food allergies find options.
Gluten Free at Hollywood Studios
Disney’s Hollywood Studios offers fun dining options with a touch of movie magic. Table service restaurants that can accommodate gluten free diets include:
- Hollywood & Vine
- Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano
- Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater
- The Hollywood Brown Derby
For quick service, gluten free guests can enjoy:
- ABC Commissary
- Backlot Express
- Catalina Eddie’s
- Fairfax Fare
- PizzeRizzo
- Rosie’s All-American Cafe
- Toluca Legs Turkey Company
Mobile order through the My Disney Experience app is available at many quick service spots and makes identifying gluten free choices even easier.
Gluten Free at Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom has fewer dining locations than the other Disney World theme parks, but still boasts excellent gluten free options. The table service restaurants are:
- Rainforest Cafe
- Tusker House Restaurant
- Yak & Yeti Restaurant
Quick service areas include:
- Flame Tree Barbecue
- Harambe Market
- Pizzafari
- Restaurantosaurus
- Satu’li Canteen
Again, fresh and whole foods like fruits, vegetables, salads, and grilled meats are abundant for gluten free guests. Animal Kingdom is small enough that walking between locations is doable, so guests have good options even with fewer dedicated restaurants.
Gluten Free Snacks at Disney World
Beyond full meals, Disney World offers gluten free snacks like:
- Dole Whip (at Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom)
- Fresh fruit cups, carrot snacks, and veggie crisps (available at kiosks park-wide)
- Gluten free candy or treats at candy shops
- Mickey pretzels or churros (request gluten free version)
- Popcorn (available throughout every park)
Guests can also bring their own gluten free snacks into the parks. Popular options include protein bars, trail mixes, dried fruit, nut butter packets, and crackers or pretzels.
Gluten Free Dining at Disneyland
Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California contains two theme parks – Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure. It also has several hotels and Downtown Disney for dining and entertainment.
Like Disney World, all Disneyland Resort table service restaurants have gluten free menus available. Some favorites include:
- Blue Bayou (Disneyland)
- Cafe Orleans (Disneyland)
- Carthay Circle (California Adventure)
- Napa Rose (Grand Californian hotel)
- Storytellers Cafe (Grand Californian)
Quick service spots with dedicated gluten free options consist of:
- Alien Pizza Planet (Disneyland)
- Cocina Cucamonga (California Adventure)
- Corn Dog Castle (Disneyland)
- Flo’s V8 Cafe (California Adventure)
- Rancho del Zocalo (Disneyland)
- Refreshment Corner (Disneyland)
Mobile order is available on the Disneyland app for easy gluten free choices at many quick service restaurants. Carts and kiosks also offer fresh fruit and other naturally gluten free snacks.
Gluten Free at Disneyland Park
In addition to the full service locations mentioned above, Disneyland Park quick service choices include:
- Galactic Grill
- Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor
- Hungry Bear Restaurant
- Jolly Holiday Bakery
- Market House
- Pluto’s Dog House
- Red Rose Taverne
- Refreshment Corner
Again, snacks like popcorn, fruits, candies, churros, and Mickey pretzels can all be found gluten free.
Gluten Free at California Adventure
The quick service spots at California Adventure with gluten free choices consist of:
- Award Wieners
- Cocina Cucamonga
- Flo’s V8 Cafe
- Lucky Fortune Cookery
- Pacific Wharf Cafe
- Paradise Garden Grill
There are also several kiosks throughout California Adventure that serve fresh fruits, vegetables, popcorn, and other snacks. Again, the chef’s at each location can help modify dishes as needed for gluten free diets.
Gluten Free at Disney Resorts and Hotels
In addition to the parks, all restaurants at Disney’s resort hotels and dining areas have gluten free menus available. Some popular options include:
- California Grill (Contemporary Resort at Disney World)
- ‘Ohana (Polynesian Village Resort at Disney World)
- Artist Point (Wilderness Lodge at Disney World)
- Storybook Dining (Wilderness Lodge)
- Grand Floridian Cafe (Grand Floridian Resort at Disney World)
- Goofy’s Kitchen (Disneyland Hotel at Disneyland)
- Steakhouse 55 (Disneyland Hotel)
Food courts, pool bars, lounges, and other quick dining spots at the hotels all have gluten free snacks, fruit, salads, and fresh meats. There are also in-room dining options for gluten free guests.
How to Order Gluten Free at Disney
Ordering gluten free meals at Disney is very straightforward. Here are some tips for doing so:
- Tell the cast member or waiter you need a gluten free meal right away. Servers at Disney are very accustomed to gluten free diets.
- Request to see the gluten free menu at table service restaurants, which will have GF options labeled. For quick service, check allergen guides.
- Ask about ingredients or preparation methods if uncertain. Disney is good about keeping contamination risk low.
- For snacks, ask cast members to confirm which items are gluten free.
- Mobile order via the My Disney Experience app to customize gluten free meals.
- Have a gluten free ID card stating your dietary needs in case of language barriers.
- Speak to a chef if needed for recommendations on hidden gluten or preparation techniques.
Disney cast members receive regular training on food allergies and most are very comfortable helping guests choose gluten free options. Don’t be afraid to ask a manager if needed.
Is Disney Entirely Gluten Free?
While Disney accommodates gluten free diets very well, the facilities are not 100% gluten free. Some things to know include:
- Most restaurants have shared kitchen equipment and prep areas where gluten is present. Risk of cross-contamination exists.
- Some buffets may have contamination from gluten-containing foods. Exercise caution.
- Cast members are well-trained but may not fully understand celiac disease severity. Verify GF choices.
- Some snacks kept in common bins could have traces of gluten from other items.
- Timing between guests eating gluten and GF meals could impact kitchen sanitation.
In general, Disney does an excellent job keeping gluten free guests safe. However, very sensitive celiacs may want to take extra precautions.
Planning Gluten Free Disney Trips
With good planning, those on a gluten free diet can enjoy the magic of Disney while remaining healthy throughout their vacation. Recommendations include:
- Book more upscale restaurants that understand GF needs better.
- Choose a hotel room with a mini-fridge to store GF snacks.
- Request a GF-friendly starter kit from guest services (available at Disneyland Paris).
- Plan for mobile ordering via the Disney app to customize meals.
- Pack shelf-stable GF snacks, bread, cereals, etc. for the room.
- Notify Disney ahead of time about any severe gluten allergy.
- Seek out naturally GF whole foods like produce.
- Research restaurant menus online using customer reviews.
With gluten free dining more popular than ever, Disney makes visiting very possible for those adhering to a GF diet. Being prepared with research and communicating needs clearly will ensure guests have a magical, safe experience.
Conclusion
In summary, Disney Parks and Resorts offer ample gluten free dining options for guests with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. All table service restaurants have gluten free menus, quick service locations have allergen guides and can modify dishes, and snacks like fruit and popcorn are available everywhere. While not 100% gluten free facilities, Disney does an excellent job accommodating GF guests with clear communication. Advanced planning, research, and utilizing Disney cast members will allow those avoiding gluten to enjoy all the magical fun of Disney worry-free.
